Beware Animal Rights Protestors, avoid opening the Pandora's Box!

Rating: Null/10 (24 June 2003)

A simple story with simple, background images, yet this film is stunningly effective  successfully offering the feeling that rage' sets off the time bomb in summoning Armageddon!
Of course, this movie would have made better sense for the audience to see more heaps of dead bodies strewn on the streets of London, or more blood-thirsting, zombie-like monsters roaming around this city, killing one another. But is the writer, Alex Garland, or Director Danny Boyle, hinting to viewers that birds of the same feather always flock together? Yet, the solitary London street scenes succeed in invoking the apocalyptic' feeling. The hello cries of Jim echoes the same. And the military base' in Manchester does summon up the sort of chaos that could easily mark the end of the world. One nice aspect to this film: it offers the viewers to see a microcosm of a nation where fear and death siren from corner to corner  all as a result of some ignorant souls opening the Pandora's Box!

The film focuses nicely on the theme of survival. It moves at an interesting pace to keep the audience wondering who'd be the next victim. Could a handful of travelers from London find salvation with the help of the military in Manchester? Death lurks - and the theme of 'death' stays with the viewers all through this film. What is interesting is the way the survivors' are portrayed... none of relative importance. Basically ordinary folks like you and me  trying to keep alive and out of danger when fear strikes! The audience will be perpetually put on edge as they watch the characters move helter-skelter during the cat-and-mouse chases. Yep, be also prepared for the shadows lurking dangerously around the bend.

The film seems to show that the actors don't have to try to sweep the viewers off their feet with their outstanding performances. There isn't any poetic or flowery dialogue. Characters who have to run amok in films don't have to try to impress anyone with their Shakespearean tongues. Ordinary folks, who are being attacked in a war zone' doing what they can to stay alive  running! There's every expectation that there's not a single minute to waste. The cast ensemble works well for this movie and does make the plot work. They bring credibility to their eventful escapade moments. One can't help being swept in to every chaotic scene, feeling as helpless as Jim and his companions  and thinking what people facing death would do.

What do I think of the ending of this film? It does leave room for thought. I do prefer happy endings to all movies and am inclined to see `Hello' as a symbolic hint.
B+